Now that I am really, really, nearing the end of my time at UT I am already turning my eye towards WHAT ELSE I CAN LEARN NOW. I did the smart thing and went for something I thought would be moderately useful, and it will be. But NOW what will I do? Well, just as I suggested that Casey learn about Automotive Technology once he's done getting his degree I have a list of things I want to learn. Tied for being the first thing I want to go after is an associates degree in ACC's Interpreter Preparation Program or Education. The rest are listed in alphabetical order:

Anthropology - I loved physical anthropology when I took it in college. I like this kind of scientific history.

Art - You all know it - I love making things. This would force me to do so, and I would enjoy every minute of it - unless there was foam core.

Creative Writing - I need work here. The personal narrative and I get along quite well, it is fiction and academic writing that usually stump me. What I was to work on that!

Culinary Arts - I love food. I would like to be able to do more with it.

Dance - My big sister got to be the ballerina. I want a piece of the graceful, rhythmic action.

Geology - I LOVE ROCKS. I had fantasies involving plate tectonics when I took this course my freshman year. I learned more last semester with Oceanography. Hooray Rocks!

Health & Kinesiology - Well, if I am going to go for dance I may as well try for coach or aerobics instructor too. Plus, I find fitness, health, and nutrition really fascinating. Blame it on being a vegetarian athlete (only a tiny, tiny, bit- but I do like to research how a rider's fitness affects elements of equine sports).

History - My brother studied History. I have never been very good at it, and I have never understood why. It is something I would like to know and be good at. I mean, especially if I am going to know, and be good at, everything else!

Jewelery - see "Art."

Music - I miss singing and sight reading. I'd like to be able to add piano to my list, and I'd like to improve my understanding of sheet music. I always just followed the notes instead of reading them.

Personal Fitness Trainer - see "Health & Kinesiology." Plus, I may be able to improve my ability to give riding lessons. And, if I've made it this far down on my list I'll be a very active person, and this will only make sense.

Photography: People - portrait focus - Who do you know with a blog who doesn't also like to take pictures? Yeah.

Radio - Television - Film - Because I couldn't get into the college of communications at UT. I think that my Scandinavian film class makes me a good candidate.

Sociology - I liked Sociology a lot in college. In some of my education courses we very lightly touched on various sociological viewpoints.. Much like History it is something that I want to understand and be good at.

Art Metals - see "Art." Plus, what girl doesn't want to learn to weld?

I think that these will keep me occupied for the rest of my life, but won't I be smart? The nice part is that some of the classes I had at UT will apply, and many of them require the same courses, so I will be able to get to the good stuff quickly. Who knows, maybe with that sort of advantage, it would only take me 20 years.

And the silly part is that I really want to try and do it. I guess I'll go and see an advisor in the fall about resuming the interpreting program. I need to retake at least one sign language course to regain my fluency and memory. Otherwise, I have already fulfilled many of the requirements. Woo-Hoo!

I think that I have failed to mention that despite how tedious it is, I genuinely like The Canterbury Tales.

How I React

-or-
Pan's Labyrinth Makes Me Sad

This all started here, at Spinning Girl's place. It then followed me home with, "I'm sorry to bother you, but I just have to ask. Why did you feel empty inside when you watched Pan's Labyrinth?? "

I want to say, "Because!" but then I would just go on being bothered by the fact that someone(s) thinks that I am a complete idiot when it comes to understanding a storyline. Don't read this the wrong way; I loved this film and will buy it when it is available on DVD. Not everyone reacts to a film the same way. My little sister watches Garden State to cheer up, it used to make me nearly suicidal to watch it.

The main reason for my discomfort with Pan's Labyrinth was the violence. I understand the film and I understood that there would be violence (I have skipped more than a few movies that include this sort of realistic violence because I just can't handle it. I just REALLY wanted to see this one.), but I wasn't quite ready for it when it first hit in the scene with the rabbits. So from that point on I was in a sort of tormented state - bordering on anxiety attack. When a film is subtitled you cannot exactly cover your eyes to miss that stuff, either. After all of that I would have left the theater in a slightly more positive mood had the movie ended in those goldish-tones. It was so emotionally taxing for me to get through those scenes that I literally felt empty.

Hey, I also cry when people mess up my orders at restaurants. As a server I know it's ridiculous, and not something that they meant to do; I still instinctively react a certain way, and once I start crying it only leads to embarrassment and more crying because of that.

I just painted a really unappealing version of myself, didn't it?

What would you do?

I had agreed to ask this question for a friend, quite a while ago, and just found this while avoiding homework and organizing things over here:

My friend got a Christmas gift in the mail the other day, from an ex. Their relationship ended over two years ago, but she is still sent gifts at Christmas and her birthday. I'm not talking a gift certificate to Old Navy, either - the most recent is a rare book from the 50s, signed by the author. We're talking gifts that cost hundreds of dollars - Things that she really does want.

Does she keep them?

Does she tell her current significant other?

What would you do?

The austinist caught my attention with this article and this video:



Hmm...

Lauren and Madge will appreciate this was featured by Heather Armstrong at Dooce. (She has some of the best daily links. I LOVED this recent one too. I want 'focus' and 'concentrate.')

Speaking of focus, here you go:

I feel the semester creepin' in

MWF - 9-10am Individual Learning Styles
TTh - 9:30-11am Chaucer
(Enough time to finish all of my homework?)
3:30-5pm Contemporary Short Fiction

This is it. I am entering my final semester at UT. Holyfuckingshit!
I haven't quite wrapped my mind around it yet, I probably won't until I have to get a job. I know it is going to fly by. With only 3 classes it shouldn't be too hard to bust ass and do well.

Yikes!

Goodness, me!

I want one of theese with a cameo center!

Uterus Pin

At least there isn't James Spader.

It's the glasses that make me look like James Spader.

If I find a photo without glasses I'll try again. Hmm, where are those photos from my sister's wedding?

And - is anyone else wondering what the hell is going on with Jeneane Garofalo's hair?

Oh My Goodness!

Blogger, you've got to be kidding me!

I had to copy this:


to post on Lauren's blog.

Anyone see something a little strange about that verification word?

"She counted the umbrellas. There were twelve."

(Thank you, Madge. You're my favorite Librarian right now!)

For no reason at all, I found myself wondering about the hitory of umbrellas a few minutes ago. There was no rain, and no one carrying one as a parasol, I just thought of how ingeneous they are, and wanted to know who deserves all of the credit. As usual, the Chinese are to thank. As long as 2,400 years ago they were reaping the benefits of an umbrella's lofty canopy. Lucky.

I love Wikipedia, so go check out their entry to fins out more like:
The Umbrella in Antiquity!
The Unbrella in Church!
The Umbrella as a Weapon!

And more exciting events in the umbrella's life.

ROCK OUT

I came across this on Flickr. Adjust it so that the slideshow speed is 1 second. It's like a photo flip book. Yay!

Know What Sound I Hate Most?

The sound of a nose being blown. It makes my skin crawl and my hair stand on end.

Oh, how I despise flu season!

Dos Blokes - the other side of Halloween

Forget your warm and fuzzies! Here is a film that was created in part by a guy I befriended during a class. It's soooo Hallo-weenie. The first 3/4 is gory, but the last little bit is worth it. I nearly wet myself the first time I saw it.

"This gritty and thought provoking short film provides a twisted look at a national epidemic. Filmed for the "Bloodshots 48 Hour Filmmaking Challenge," Dos Blokes earned the Austin Critic's Award from producer John Pierson and film critic Harry Knowles. Then, it was selected for the grand prize by Sin City director Robert Rodriguez. It has since played at the 2005 South By Southwest Film Festival and many other festivals around the country.CREATED BY: Chris Anderson, Brian Clark, Kent Kincannon, Jack McWilliams, Austin Miller, Charles Mills, Jesse Moorefield, Marlo Nespeca, Mike Perry, Nick Robinson, Michael Simpson, Joshua Stroud and Bruce Tazakkol."